But I don't think even Daniel and Ben's most ardent fans would believe they'd be in those parts without ADWD

No I am sure the profile they achieved from ADWD has definitely helped ... but in both cases they were cast by American producers ... who may not have been so familiar with ADWD.

Daniel readily admits he did ADWD to get a profile because that is how the business is at the moment. What we now have are a group of very talented young men, who have a profile and are able to capitilise on it ... rather than some ex soap stars/failed pop stars going into musicals because of their name rather than their talent (I'm generalising of course but you get the idea ).

I'm glad to hear that Lee is "working his a*se off" as I thought he had put on a bit of weight when we saw him on Christmas Eve.
I think he definitely was the best candidate for the role of Joseph, but I also think that he doesn't have the best voice in the world - I think we all heard a few flat notes from him during ADWD - and while a fairly lightweight part like Joseph suits him, he may struggle a bit with more challenging roles. However, that is just my opinion, and, as Noah's Aark so rightly says, we can't all think the same way about everything!

Yes, I understand what you're saying

Aren't you confusing having a good voice with being a good singer, though? Lee is certainly far from flawless in terms of tuning, but I don't see that as the same thing as whether his actual voice is good

It must be a personal thing. I find the slightly husky soft tone of his voice really fabulous and much prefer it to the rank and file singers. Some people don't feel the same way.

Lee is really slender right now - I saw him on Saturday and I can assure you that he is in excellent shape.

As for his voice on WJMM - well, I'm sure this has been covered, but Lee was on the verge of going down with bronchitis at the time. He clearly wasn't well, as you could see from his puffy face and hear from his performances.

He was quite breathless in IICD and far from flawless in the duet - but the passion and the emotion more than compensated, in my opinion.

Oh absolutely. Much as I love it, I can see exactly why people don't like Lee's voice. Especially fans of Daniel, actually, as his voice is very different. I love both though

The point I was making was just that being a good singer isn't the same as having a good voice.

you've lost me on this one, Phil

I see having a good voice as being all the technical bits like tuning and breathing and stuff

and being a good singer as having emotion and presence and light and shade etc in the performance and execution of the song

e.g I don't think Sinatra had a great voice but he was an amazing singer (*waits for Phil to disagree *)

thats why I'd say Lee didn't have the best voice in ADWD but I truly believe he was the best singer

and he's gorgeous

I see a good voice as being about tone, while being a good singer is about all the technical stuff, plus all the emotional stuff etc. I won't even comment on Sinatra

And such a great performer...

and so believable...

oh, and gorgeous!

It's nice being able to like both - I do too!

and he has nice curly hair

Calm down Eryn! Anyone would think you liked the guy!

*is gonna hide out here where Eryn can't use her guillotine*

Something for you, Mel, my friend


Nice Keith pic

Nice try but you don't fool me that easily!

and not forgetting the amazing intense eyes...

Darn, foiled again!

A LoveLee who posts on LL.co.uk has pointed out something interesting...


Fred Astaire was thought to have at most a mediocre "voice" (ie couldn't sing by conventional standards) but all the big songwriters - Kahn. Porter, Gershwin etc - absolutely loved him because of the way he "put over a song." and wanted him to sing their songs.

Strength isn't everything. Interpretation is essential.

For me the sign of a voice 'affecting me' is when I get goose bumps and the hairs on my arms stand on end.

I went to the Theatrecares Christmas Concert in November with some of the finest West End performers singing ... only a couple had that affect on me ... Dianna Pilkington who is currently in Wicked and finally Joanna Ampil and the cast of Les Mis singing 'Believe' from the movie Polar Express - it was quite sensational.

Daniel has that affect, a few other musical theatre performers have ... Paul Keating (who starred in Tommy and more recently Little Shop of Horrors) is another.

It's no different to me LOVING Will Young singing but finding listening to James Blunt like strangled cats (and I'm a kitten so that's saying something!!!!!).

I think that this is a good point, I just wonder if having a not conventionally very strong voice would limit the type of parts that someone could sing?

I have to agree I did miss ben it that bit. In fact I suprised myself on how much i missed Ben.

Ben had GREAT stage presence all through ADWD ... I often thought his vocals let him down - but he sure can move!

Popping by quickly to tell you i absolutely loved this show ! Great to see everyone back

There's another thread for WJMM under TV programmes!